Songwriters' Hall Of Fame

Bobby's Induction

Gary Walden's Speech and Dodd Darin's Letter of Acceptance

Gary Walden and Ahmet Ertegun:Songwriters' Hall of Fame ceremony: June 9, 1999

"It's unbelieveable...what you can do..." (Audio)
Below is Dodd Darin's acceptance speech, which was made for his father's posthumous induction into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. The letter was read at the ceremony on June 9, 1999, by Bobby Darin's brother Gary Walden, who eloquently said before reading:
"This is too much!... unbelievable. It's hard to put into words how great Bobby was, its sounds like your saying too much but Bobby truly was a great performer.It's unbelievable how much he accomplished in 37 short years. That's all he was here. I'm 43 years old and its unbelievable how he squeezed so much out of that short period of time.
I know that Bobby would be thrilled to receive this award, because songwriting was so meaningful to him, it was another aspect of his career that he truly loved,and to be inducted into this Great Hall of Fame would of really thrilled him."

June 9, 1999
While I have been and always will be uncomfortable trying to speak for him, I think it is fair to say that my father would have viewed this induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame to be the finest professional honor he could receive. It is one thing for a vocalist to interpret the lyrics of others; it is quite another to reach deep down within and create from an absolutely blank page. To be included with the incredibly talented people inducted this year and those who came before is something quite special. My humble attempts in this simple note have left me with a profound new respect for writers of every medium.

To those responsible for my father being selected; you have my deepest gratitude and appreciation. To Steve Blauner, Harriet Wasser, Ahmet Ertegun, Wayne Newton, the late Sammy Davis Jr., Dick and Micky Behrke, Dick Clark, Linda Johnson, James Scalia, Alison Passarelli and of course our family, the late Charles and Nina Maffia, Gary Walden, Vivi Walden and Vana Maffia, I share this evening with you as I know he would have. Some of you were with him during his lifetime; some of you have been wonderful to me and my family in helping to perpetuate his legacy. All of you have contributed something from the heart and two generations of Darin's are indebted to you all.

My regret is a simple one and that of course is that my father is not here to share this acknowledgment with all of you, his peers. Hopefully he would have comfortable with the sentiments I have expressed; they are certainly heartfelt. He would have phrased it better than I, but then again he did have a way with words didn't he!...
Dad, I miss you and am so very proud.
Dodd Darin

Following the reading of Dodd's letter, Gary concluded Bobby's induction by saying "And I was proud to be Bobby's brother. Thank you very much."